…As Protesters leave Gani Fawehinmi Park in Lagos
The Niger Delta Young Leaders Forum, a Civil Society Organisation (CSO), has announced its withdrawal from the ongoing nationwide end-bad governance protest. Normalcy has also returned to Benin, after days of protest
The National Chairman of the group, Chief Imo Okoko, announced this in a statement released in Abuja.
“Our young leaders of the Niger Delta region scattered across the country, we appreciate the solidarity shown us throughout this most trying period of our collective quest for good governance and a better standard of living for all Nigerians.
“It will be recalled that before Aug. 1, we had repeatedly voiced the pains, anger, and frustration of our people over the soaring prices of almost every food item and essential commodities in the country.
“We equally forewarned of our readiness to join the planned protest, if nothing concrete was put on ground to cushion the hardship we are experiencing.
“We salute the courage of all our members and associates who have trouped out in their hundreds and thousands to solidarise with and support the protesters nationwide.
“Your sacrifices and the risks you have taken shall never go unrewarded, as both humanity and divinity have taken records accordingly,” Okoko said.
He said after Day 5 of the nationwide protests, it had become imperative to take stock and do an objective review of the progress made and the situation on ground.
The chairman of the group praised the protesters for showing a high level of civility and maturity thus far and also expressed appreciation to the security operatives for exhibiting professionalism in managing the protesters.
According to him, no government, in recent history has tolerated protests and accommodated the magnitude of public confrontations in such a manner.
He applauded the government for the sustained empathy it showed in acknowledging the pains and hardships the people are facing.
Okoko then appealed to the youth for more patience and time for the government to implement the various policies and programmes designed to remedy the situation.
“Above all, we have observed the gradual hijack of the protests by criminal elements in parts of the country, a dimension that has led to the looting of shops and warehouses, violence, and the attack of innocent Nigerians.
“It is in light of these developments that we have decided to yield to the intervention and passionate appeal of the highly-respected leadership of the National Civil Society of Nigeria (NCSCN), under the watch of Amb. Blessing Akinlosotu, and suspend our participation in the ongoing nationwide protests against.
“We, therefore, direct all our members and associates to, henceforth, pull out of the protest and join forces with the NCSCN in their intense advocacy for further consultations and dialogue with the government,” Okoko said.
He commended the leadership of the Civil Society Council for brokering the resolution and applauded its members for the remarkable show of solidarity and loyalty.
In another development, Commercial activities finally picked up in Benin on Tuesday after five days of protests in Benin, Edo.
The roadblocks at strategic areas of the city have been dismantled by security operatives.
Shop owners, who closed their businesses for fear of being attacked, were seen displaying their goods when a correspondent moved around the city.
The secretariat of the Edo Government which had been under lock for days was also opened to workers on Tuesday.
A coalition of Civil Society Organisations that occupied the King Square at the popular Ring Road also withdrew from the nationwide protest
However, many banks are yet to open for business as customers were stranded at the entrances of some of the banks.
A trader at the King Square popularly known as Ring Road, Mrs Favour Osagiede, expressed delight over the improvement in economic activities in the area.
She said that the little savings she had were exhausted during the protest.
Osagiede said opening of the Oba market in the area, would help her make some money to cater for feeding and other needs at home.
She said despite the protest being peaceful, putting an end to it remained a better option to avoid the continued hardship.
Mr Gbenga Samuel, who deals in second-hand clothing, appealed to the Federal Government to attend to the demands of the protesters.
Protests seeking an end to economic hardship were initially very intensive in Benin, where youths barricaded major roads.
Meanwhile, normalcy has returned to the Gani Fawehunmi Park, Ojota in Lagos State after five days of protests against hardship by some groups.
A correspondent at the park on Tuesday observed that protesters had left the place and that more than 40 vehicles belonging to security agencies were seen stationed at the park.
The vehicles parked at the front gate of the park included those of the police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Department of State Service Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Agency and the military.
It was equally observed that security vehicles were parked on the service lanes of the Ojota-Ikorodu Road.
A resident of Ojota, who pleaded anonymity, noted that the organisers of the protest suspended the protest Monday evening, for reasons not disclosed.
He said that a handful of protesters was at the park early Tuesday to continue the protest, but decided to retreat when they sighted heavy security presence at the park.
“Few members of that group were around this morning, but when they tried to gather, security operatives dispersed them, ensuring normalcy,’’ he said.
The Lagos Police Command Spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, told newsmen that apart from Ojota, normalcy had returned to other parts of the state.
Hundeyin said security personnel would remain at Ojota Park for a while before pulling out completely to ensure that troublemakers did not gather there again.
